A Meadow Flat farmer is starring in a new SafeWork NSW public-awareness campaign aimed at reducing quad bike-related injuries and fatalities, Minister for Better Regulation Matt Kean said.
Robert Hood of “Brookfield”, Meadow Flat, is helping promote the benefits of agricultural side-by side vehicles, which are a safer alternative to quad bikes for farming activities.
Mr Kean, who is responsible for SafeWork NSW, said side-by-sides have higher load capacity, and Australian research has shown they are more stable than quad bikes.
“They are also different to quad bikes in that the rider sits inside and they have a steering wheel, seat belts and rollover protection,” Mr Kean said.
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“These are vital safety features, given 60 per cent of the quad bike fatalities examined in 2015 by the NSW Coroner involved a rollover,” he said.
Mr Hood, who produces fat lambs and Angus cattle, was lucky to survive a nasty quad bike accident when his vehicle flipped upside down in a creek, leaving him stranded in 30 centimetres of water.
He said he was happy to help promote side-by-side vehicles as they were much safer and, in many cases, could do the job of a traditional farm utility vehicle.
“Most farmers have a ute and a car but I think in many cases a side-by-side can do the work of a ute – mine can pull up to 800 kilos,” Mr Hood said.
Mr Kean said under the NSW Government’s Quad Bike Safety Improvement Program, eligible farmers can apply for two rebates of $1000 each to put towards the purchase of side-by-side vehicles, quad bike operator protective devices and helmets. They can also attend free training, which comes with a free helmet.
“NSW farmers have bought more than 850 side-by-side vehicles with the support of the rebate program, but we want more to consider making the switch,” he said.
Article by Lithgow Mercury
